Connector

ABSTRACT

A flexible lock arm has a first arm which extends from a stay portion to an inflection point of the first arm on a front side of a terminal along a length direction indicated by arrow Y 1  and a second arm which extends from the inflection point of the first arm to a rear end viewed from a stay portion. A first retaining projection is provided on the second arm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.2006-345907, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a connector and, in particular, to a connectorwhich includes a connector housing with a housing body having a terminalreceiving chamber receiving thereinside a terminal, and a housing coverreceiving the connector housing.

2. Description of the Related Art

Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No.2004-220970) discloses a conventional half-fitting preventing connector(see FIG. 14). The half-fitting preventing connector includes a femaleconnector housing 100 as a housing connector with the terminal receivingchamber that receives a female terminal TF and the housing cover, i.e.,a fitting detection member 200 that receives the female connectorhousing 100.

Unless the female connector housing 100 is in complete engagement with amating male connector housing 300, the fitting detection member 200 doesnot allow the female connector housing 100 to be slid from an initialposition where the female connector housing 100 still projects from afront opening of the fitting detection member 200 to anengagement-detection position where the entire female connector housing100 is received in the fitting detection member 200. Whether or not thefemale connector housing 100 is completely engaged with the maleconnector housing 300 can be judged by whether the female connectorhousing 100 is positioned at the initial position or at theengagement-detection position.

The conventional female connector housing 100 has a main body 110, aflexible lock arm 120, and projections 130 configured to engage a pairof engaging portions formed at the fitting detection member 200. Themain body, flexible lock arm, and projection in Patent Document 1correspond to a housing main body, a first flexible lock arm, and afirst retaining projection of the connector according to the presentinvention, respectively. The main body 110 is provided with the terminalreceiving chambers that receive female terminals. The flexible lock arm120 has a stay portion 121 upstanding from the main body 110, and an arm122 which, when viewed from the stay portion 121, extends from the frontend to the rear end of the female terminal TF along a length directionof the female connector housing 100. By virtue of this configuration,the flexible lock arm 120 is displaced in a seesaw-like manner about thestay portion 121 acting as a fulcrum. The projection 130 is provided tothe rear end in the length direction when viewed from the stay portion121 of the flexible lock arm 120.

The fitting detection member 200 has a cylindrical main body 210, anengaging portion 220, which corresponds to a second retaining projectionof the present invention, and a flexible locking arm 230, whichcorresponds to a second flexible lock arm as a retention reinforcementportion of the present invention. The cylindrical main body 210 receivesthe female connector housing 100. The engaging portion 220 protrudes inthe cylindrical main body 210 and engages the top end of the projection130. By virtue of an engagement of the projection 130 and the engagingportion 220, the female connector housing 100 is detached from thefitting detection member 200 even when the fitting detection member 200is displaced in a detachment direction, i.e., toward the rear end of thelength direction Y1.

The flexible locking arm 230 abuts a front end of the arm 122. When thefitting detection member 200 is moved in the detachment direction, thefront end of the arm 122 is flexibly deformed toward a lower side in thedrawing. The rear end of the arm 122 is then flexibly deformed toward anupper side in the drawing, causing the projection 130 to be displacedtoward the upper side in the drawing, i.e., in a direction in which theengagement with the engaging portion 220 is strengthened. In thismanner, engagement is strengthened.

However, the conventional flexible lock arm 120 has a drawback: Sincethe deformation of the front side of the arm 122 is transmitted to therear side of the arm 122 via the stay portion 121 slanting toward thefront side of the arm 122, and a slant of a front side of the stayportion 121 is steeper than that of a rear side of the stay portion 121,the amount of deformation of the rear end of the arm 122 is thereforesmaller than that of the front end of the arm 122. When a thickness ofthe stay portion 121 is made larger, the amount of deformation of therear end of the arm 122 with respect to the front side of the arm 122becomes smaller.

Also, since the connectors with reduced size and less height do notallow the front end of the arm 122 to be bent to a large extent, theconventional connectors fail to ensure sufficient engagement of thefemale connector housing 100 with the fitting detection member 200. As aresult, the female connector housing 100 may be accidentally disengagedfrom the fitting detection member 200.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence, an object of the present invention is to provide a connectorwhich allows firm engagement of a connector housing with a housingcover.

In order to attain the above objective, the present invention is toprovide a connector that includes the connector housing and the housingcover the features of which are summarized as follows.

The connector housing includes a housing main body, a flexible lock arm,and a first retaining projection. The housing main body is provided witha terminal receiving chamber for receiving a terminal. The flexible lockarm is displaceable in a seesaw-like manner with a stay portionupstanding from the housing main body acting as a fulcrum. The firstretaining projection is provided on a rear side in a length direction ofthe terminal when viewed from the stay portion of the flexible lock arm.

Meanwhile, the housing cover includes a cylindrical portion, a secondretaining projection, and a retention reinforcement portion. Thecylindrical portion receives the connector housing. The second retainingprojection protruding from an inner surface of the cylindrical portionand engages a front side of the first retaining projection. Theretention reinforcement portion displaces the first retaining projectiontoward an engagement direction in which the engagement of the firstretaining projection with the second retaining projection isstrengthened, by means of flexibly deforming the front end of theflexible lock arm when the cylindrical portion is moved toward adetachment direction in which the cylindrical portion is detached fromthe connector housing.

Further, the above flexible lock arm has a first arm which extends fromthe stay portion toward an inflection point of a front end of theterminal in the length direction, and a second arm that extends from theinflection point of the first arm toward a rear side viewed from thestay portion. Also, the first retaining projection is provided on thesecond arm.

With the construction described above, since the flexible lock arm hasthe first arm and the second arm which includes the first retainingprojection, a rear end of the second arm can be flexibly deformeddepending solely upon a deformation of a front end of the first arm,regardless of a difference of amounts of slanting of a front side and arear side of the stay portion. Thus, more effective and reliableengagement of the connector housing with the housing cover can beachieved.

Preferably, the connector according to the present invention providesthe connector housing including a fulcrum projection provided on a frontside of the second arm when viewed from the stay portion which residesbetween the inflection point of the first arm and the first retainingprojection. Also, the housing cover preferably has a supporting portionwhich supports a side of deformation of the fulcrum projection, causedby the retention reinforcement portion.

With the construction described above, since the connector housing hasthe fulcrum projection, and the housing cover has the supportingportion, the amount of deformation of the rear end of the second armwith respect to the amount of deformation of the front end of the firstarm can be made larger. This is because the fulcrum projection on thefront side viewed from the stay portion acts as a fulcrum when the frontend of the flexible lock arm is flexibly deformed due to the retentionreinforcement portion. Thus, more effective and reliable engagement ofthe connector housing with the housing cover can be achieved.

Preferably, the connector according to the present invention providesretaining surfaces of the first retaining projection and the secondretaining projection, each of which is tapered, sloping in theengagement direction.

With the construction described above, since the retaining surfaces ofthe first retaining projection and the second retaining projectionrespectively are tapered, sloping in the engagement direction, the firstretaining projection can be displaced more flexibly in the engagementdirection. Thus, more effective and reliable engagement of the connectorhousing with the housing cover can be achieved.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent upon reading of the followingdetailed description along with the accompanied drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a connector in aninitial position according to the present invention

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1 in a completeengagement position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a female connector housing of theconnector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a housing cover of the connector of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the female connector housing of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line VI-VIof FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the lineVII-VII of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG.1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the circle X of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11A is a partially sectional view of the connector at the initialposition.

FIG. 11B is a partially sectional view of the female housing and themating male housing in a state of incomplete engagement.

FIG. 11C is a partially sectional view of the female housing and themating male housing in a state of complete engagement.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are partially sectional views of the female housingdeparting from the initial position of the housing cover and graduallyapproaching the complete engagement position of the housing cover.

FIGS. 13A and 13B respectively show a first retaining projection and asecond retaining projection in another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of aconventional half-fitting preventing connector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the connector of the present invention is describedwith reference to the attached drawings 1 to 14. Note that arrows Y1,Y2, and Y3 in the drawings indicate length, width, and thicknessdirections of the connector, respectively.

Let us start with taking a look at FIGS. 1 and 2 to overview aconfiguration of the connector of the present invention. The connectorhas a connector housing 10, which is a female connector housing, and ahousing cover 20 which receives the connector housing 10 thereinside.The housing cover 20 of this embodiment is an outer cover with connectorposition assurance (CPA) functionality, and has a similar function as ina conventional fitting detection member. When the connector housing 10is not in complete engagement with a mating male connector housing, theconnector housing 10 cannot be slid from an initial position (seeFIG. 1) to a complete engagement position (see FIG. 2). As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, the initial position of the connectorhousing 10 is a state where the connector housing 10 still projects froma front opening of the housing cover 20, and the complete engagementposition is a state where the entire connector housing 10 has beenreceived inside the housing cover 20.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the connector housing 10 has a housing mainbody 11 and a flexible lock arm 12. The housing main body 11 has aterminal receiving chamber C which receives a terminal TF (see FIG. 9).In the drawings, the four terminal receiving chambers are arranged alonga width direction of the connector housing 10, indicated by arrow Y2 inthe drawings. Arrow Y2 is orthogonal with respect to a length directionof the terminal TF, indicated by arrow Y1. The terminal TF is a femaleterminal.

The housing main body 11 includes a male housing retaining portion 11Aprovided to the front side of the female terminals TF along arrow Y1 anda housing cover engagement portion 11B provided to an opposing rear sideof arrow Y1. The male housing retaining portion 11A engages the housingmain body 11 with the male housing 30. The male housing 30 receivesthereinside a mating male terminals which engage the female terminalsTF. The housing cover engagement portion 11B engages the housing cover20. The housing cover engagement portion 11B has a retaining claw 11B1and a retaining projection 11B2. The retaining claw 11B1 is tapered sothat a height of the retaining claw 11B1 gradually diminishes toward therear end of arrow Y1. In the initial position, the retaining claw 11B1engages a retaining claw 26 (see FIG. 6) provided on the housing cover20. The retaining projection 11B2 projects along the length directionY1. The retaining projection 11B2 engages a retaining projection 27 (seeFIG. 7) provided on the housing cover 20 in the complete engagementposition. Note that the front end of the terminal TF along the lengthdirection Y1 is a side nearer to the male housing 30 while the rear endof the length direction Y1 is an opposite side of the front end, fartherdistant from the male housing 30.

Also, the flexible lock arm 12 is made of a flexible material. Theflexible lock arm 12 has, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a pair of stayportions 12A, a pair of first arms 12B, a connecting portion 12C, a pairof second arms 12D, and a lock operating portion 12E.

The pair of the stay portions 12A upstands from the housing coverengagement portion 11B heightwise, i.e., along arrow Y3 representing thethickness direction. The thickness direction Y3 is at right angle toboth the length direction Y1 and the width direction Y2. The pair of thefirst arms 12B extend from the pair of the stay portions 12A toward aninflection point provided on the front side of the length direction Y1.The pair of the first arms 12B are spaced with each other along thewidth direction Y2.

The connecting portion 12C engages the inflection points of the twofirst arms 12B. The connecting portion 12C, as shown in FIG. 11, has atapering surface 12C1 on the connecting portion 12C. A height of thetapering surface 12C1 diminishes from the rear end toward the front endalong the length direction Y1. Also, a tapering surface 12C2 is providedon an underside of the connecting portion 12C. A height of the taperingsurface 12C2 diminishes from the rear end toward the front end along thelength direction Y1.

The pair of the second arms 12D extend from the inflection points of thepair of the first arms 12B, along arrow Y1 toward the rear side viewedfrom the stay portion 12A. The lock operating portion 12E engages therear ends of the pair of the second arms 12D with each other.

The connector housing 10 has a pair of first retaining projections 13and a pair of fulcrum projections 14. The pair of the first retainingprojections 13 engages a second retaining projection 22 provided on thehousing cover 20. The pair of the first retaining projections 13 are, asshown in FIG. 5, closer to the rear end than the stay portion 12A of thepair of the second arms 12D are, and project outwardly along the widthdirection Y2. The pair of the first retaining projections 13, as shownin FIG. 12, has a tapering surface 13A on a rear side of the firstretaining projections 13. A height of the tapering surface 13Adiminishes from the front end toward the rear end along the lengthdirection Y1.

As shown in FIG. 5, each one of the pair of the fulcrum projections 14is provided on each corresponding one of the pair of the second arms12D. The pair of the fulcrum projections 14 are arranged nearer to thefront end of the connecting portion 12C than the stay portion which isyet nearer to the front end of the connecting portion 12C than the firstretaining projection 13 is. As shown in FIG. 8, the pair of the fulcrumprojections 14 are respectively arranged in such a manner that, in thecomplete engagement position, lower sides of the fulcrum projectionscorresponding to a lower side of the thickness direction Y3 aresupported by a pair of supporting portions 25 provided on the inner wallof the housing cover 20.

With the above configuration of the flexible lock arm 12, the connectingportion 12C can be lifted toward an upper side of the thicknessdirection Y3 with the stay portion 12A acting as a fulcrum when the lockoperating portion 12E is pushed toward a bottom side of the thicknessdirection Y3. Likewise, the lock operating portion 12E and the firstretaining projection 13 are lifted toward the upper side of thethickness direction Y3 with the fulcrum projection 14 acting as afulcrum when the connecting portion 12C is pushed toward the bottom sidealong the thickness direction Y3.

Secondly, the following describes a configuration of the housing cover20. Referring to FIG. 4, the housing cover 20 has a cylindrical portion21, a second retaining projection 22, a retention reinforcement portion23, an opening 24, and a supporting portion 25. The cylindrical portion21, formed in a cylindrical shape, receives thereinside the connectorhousing 10. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a retaining claw 26 and aretaining projection 27 are provided on an inner wall of the cylindricalportion 21. The retaining claw 26 is tapered so that a height of theretaining claw 26 gradually diminishes from the rear end toward thefront end along the length direction Y1. The retaining claw 26 engagesthe retaining claw 11b1 provided in the housing 10. In the completeengagement position, the retaining projection 27 engages a retainingprojection 11B2 provided in the connector housing 10. The secondretaining projection 22, as shown in FIG. 8, protrudes in thecylindrical portion 21 and, in the complete engagement position, engagesthe top end of the first retaining projection 13. Incidentally, theflexible lock arm 12 and the retention reinforcement portion 23 may bereferred to as a first flexible lock arm and a second flexible lock arm,respectively, if functional correspondence is to be emphasized.

The retention reinforcement portion 23 is provided along the lengthdirection Y1, wherein a region of the retention reinforcement portion 23corresponding to the rear end along the length direction Y1 issupported, and a region of the retention reinforcement portion 23corresponding to the front end along the length direction Y1 is a freeend. A retaining claw 23A protruding toward the connector housing 10 isprovided at a front end of the retention reinforcement portion 23. Theretaining claw 23A of the retention reinforcement portion 23 abuts thefront end of the connecting portion 12C inside the housing cover 20 whenthe connector housing 10 is in the complete engagement position. Theretaining claw 23A, as shown in FIG. 11, has a tapering surface 23A1 tothe rear end of the retaining claw 23A. The tapering surface 23A1becomes nearer to a lower side in the drawing as the tapering surface23A1 approaches the front end along the length direction Y1.

Referring again to FIG. 2, an opening 24 is provided in such a mannerthat a lock operating portion 12E of the connector housing 10 is exposedto outside of the housing cover 20 via the opening 24 when the connectorhousing 10 is in the complete engagement position inside the housingcover 20. As shown in FIG. 8, the supporting portion 25 in the completeengagement position supports the bottom side of the connector housing 10corresponding to the lower end of the thickness direction Y3.

The male housing 30 has a projecting claw 31 projecting toward the upperside of the thickness direction Y3. Further, a tapering surface 31A isprovided on a rear end of the projecting claw 31. The tapering surface31A approaches the upper side in the drawing as the tapering surface 31Aapproaches the front end along arrow Y1 representing the lengthdirection.

Third, the following describes how to insert the connector housing 10into the housing cover 20. To start with, the rear end of the connectorhousing 10 is inserted via the opening on a front side of the housingcover 20 into the housing cover 20. After that, the connector housing 10is moved toward the rear end along the length direction Y1 and, when theconnector housing 10 has reached the initial position, the retainingclaw 11B1 of the connector housing 10 engages the retaining claw 26 ofthe housing cover 20 (see FIG. 6). Thus, the connector housing 10 willbe firmly maintained at the initial position even when the connectorhousing 10 is pulled toward the front end of the housing cover 20 alongthe length direction Y1.

Further referring to FIG. 11A, when the connector housing 10 is in theinitial position, the retaining claw 23A of the retention reinforcementportion 23 engages the rear end of the connecting portion 12C. Thus, theconnector housing 10 is effectively kept in the initial position evenwhen the connector housing 10 is pushed toward the rear end of theconnector housing 20 along the length direction Y1.

Fourth, an engagement mechanism for engaging the connector housing 10with the mating male housing 30 is as follows. The male housing 30 ismoved toward the connector housing 10 while the connector housing 10 isin the initial position. When the top end of the projecting claw 31 onthe male housing 30 reaches the connecting portion 12C, the projectingclaw 31 gradually pushes the connecting portion 12C of the flexible lockarm 12 upwardly along the mutually opposing tapering surfaces 12C2 and31A, thus strengthening the engagement of the connecting portion 12C ofthe flexible lock arm 12 with the retention reinforcement portion 23(see FIG. 11B). The connector housing 10 remains in the initial positionin such an incompletely engaged state.

When the male housing 30 is inserted further until the projecting claw31 reaches the rear side viewed from the connecting portion 12C, theflexible lock arm 12 is restored to an original shape and the connectorhousing 10 becomes completely engaged with the male housing 30. At thispoint, the projecting claw 31 pushes up the retention reinforcementportion 23 toward the upper side in the drawing, and disengages theconnecting portion 12C of the flexible lock arm 12 from the retentionreinforcement portion 23 (see FIG. 11C). In this manner, the connectorhousing 10 can be inserted further into a deeper rear end inside thehousing cover 20.

Next, the connector housing 10 completely engaging the male housing 30is further moved toward the deeper rear end inside the housing cover 20.When the first retaining projection 13 of the connector housing 10reaches the second retaining projection 22 of the housing cover 20, thesecond retaining projection 22 gradually pushes the first retainingprojection 13 on the flexible lock arm 12 downwardly along the taperingsurface 13A of the first retaining projection 13 (see FIGS. 12A and12B).

When the connector housing 10 is moved toward a further deeper rear endinside the housing cover 20 until the connector housing 10 reaches thecomplete engagement position, then, as shown in FIG. 8, the firstretaining projection 13 is located at a rear side viewed from the secondretaining projection 22 and the first retaining projection 13 isrestored to an original shape. Thus, the second retaining projection 22engages the top end of the first retaining projection 13, and theconnector housing 10 is kept in the complete engagement position evenwhen the connector housing 10 is pulled toward the front end of thehousing cover 20 along the length direction Y1. Also, when the connectorhousing 10 is in the complete engagement position, the retainingprojection 11B2 of the connector housing 10 engages the retainingprojection 27 of the housing cover 20, and the connector housing 10 isheld in the complete engagement position even when the connector housing10 is pushed toward the rear end of the housing cover 20 along thelength direction Y1 (see FIG. 7). In addition, when the completeengagement position is reached, the retaining claw 23A of the retentionreinforcement portion 23 abuts the top end of the connecting portion 12C(see FIG. 10).

From the foregoing it is clear that, when the first retaining projection13 is displaced toward the lower side by pushing the lock operatingportion 12E downwards, a state of engagement of the second retainingprojection 22 with the first retaining projection 13 can be exited. Inother words, a movement in a direction from the upper side toward thelower side of arrow Y3 will cause the state of the engagement to beexited, and a movement in a direction from the lower side toward theupper side of arrow Y3 will cause the state of the engagement to bestrengthened.

Finally, the following explains the operations of each part when, in thecomplete engagement position, a force is applied which may causedetachment of the connector housing 10 from the housing cover 20. Whenthe housing cover 20 is displaced, without operating the lock operatingportion 12E, along the length direction Y1, i.e., toward a detachmentdirection in which detachment of the housing cover 20 from the connectorhousing 10 results, then the retention reinforcement portion 23gradually pushes down the connecting portion 12C of the flexible lockarm 12 along the retaining claw 23A of the retention reinforcementportion 23 and the taper surfaces 23A1 and 12C1 of the connectingportion 12C, toward the lower side in the drawing.

Since the retention reinforcement portion 23 is supported by the fulcrumprojection 14 and the supporting portion 25, a rear side viewed from thefulcrum projection 14 is lifted up toward the upper side in the drawingwhen the connecting portion 12C is pushed down. In this manner, thefirst retaining projection 13 is pushed up toward the upper side, i.e.,in an engagement direction in which the engagement of the firstretaining projection 13 with the second retaining projection 22 isstrengthened, and an engagement margin between the second retainingprojection 22 of the housing cover 20 and the first retaining projection13 of the connector housing 10 is widened, thus improving a holdingpower.

According to the above connector, the flexible lock arm 12 has the firstarm 12B which extends from the stay portion 12A toward the inflectionpoint on the front side of the terminal TF along arrow Y1, and thesecond arm 12D which extends from the inflection point of the first arm12B toward the rear side when viewed from the stay portion 12A. Also,the first retaining projection 13 is provided on the second arm 12D.This configuration allows the rear end of the second arm 12D to bedeformed flexibly depending solely upon the deformation of the front endof the first arm 12B, regardless of the difference between the amountsof slanting of the front side of the stay portion 12A and the rear sideof the stay portion 12A. This helps reinforce the engagement of thefirst retaining projection 13 with the second retaining projection 22.

In addition, according to the connector described above, the connectorhousing 10 has the fulcrum projection 14 provided on the second arm 12Dwhich is closer to the front end than the stay portion 12A residingbetween the inflection point of the first arm 12B and the firstretaining projection 13, and the housing cover 20 has the supportingportion 25 which supports the side of deformation caused by theretention reinforcement portion 23 of the fulcrum projection 14, i.e.,the lower side of the thickness direction Y3. When the front end of theflexible lock arm 12 is flexibly deformed toward the lower side by theretention reinforcement portion 23, the fulcrum projection 14 acts as afulcrum and the amount of deformation of the rear end of the second arm12D is augmented with respect to the amount of deformation of the frontend of the first arm 12B, thus strengthening the engagement of the firstretaining projection 13 with the second retaining projection 22.

Although the above embodiment includes the fulcrum projection 14 and thesupporting portion 25 that are provided on the connector housing 10 andthe housing cover 20, respectively, implementation is possible withoutthese two features.

Also, the retaining surfaces of the first retaining projection 13 andthe second retaining projection 22 are in parallel with respect to eachother in the thickness direction Y3. This does not exclude otherpossibilities of implementation. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13A and13B, mutually opposing retaining surfaces that are tapered, in order tofacilitate lifting up of the first retaining projection 13, would allowthe first retaining projection 13 to be displaced more smoothly in theengagement direction.

It should be noted that the embodiment described above is illustrated asan example of the possible embodiments of the present invention and thatnumerous modifications and variations can be effectuated within thespirit and scope of the present invention

1. A connector comprising: a connector housing including a housing mainbody having a terminal receiving chamber for receiving a terminal, aflexible lock arm displaceable in a seesaw-like manner with a stayportion upstanding from said housing main body acting as a fulcrum, anda first retaining projection arranged on a rear side of a lengthdirection of said terminal viewed from said stay portion of saidflexible lock arm; and a housing cover including a cylindrical portionreceiving said connector housing, a second retaining projectionprotruding from an inner surface of said cylindrical portion andengaging a front side of said first retaining projection, and aretention reinforcement portion flexibly deforming a front end of saidflexible lock arm and displacing said first retaining projection towardan engagement direction in which engagement of said first retainingprojection with said second retaining projection is strengthened, uponan occurrence of a movement of said cylindrical portion toward adetachment direction in which said cylindrical portion is detached fromsaid connector housing, wherein said flexible lock arm includes a firstarm which extends from said stay portion to an inflection point on afront side of said terminal in the length direction, and a second armwhich extends from the inflection point of said first arm to a rear sideof said stay portion, and said first retaining projection is provided onsaid second arm.
 2. A connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidconnector housing includes a fulcrum projection provided on a front sideof said second arm when viewed from said stay portion residing betweenthe inflection point of said first arm and said first retainingprojection, and said housing cover includes a supporting portion whichsupports a side of deformation of said fulcrum projection caused by saidretention reinforcement portion.
 3. A connector as set forth in claim 1,wherein a retaining surface of said first retaining projection and aretaining surface of said second retaining projection are both tapered,sloping toward said engagement direction.
 4. A connector as set forth inclaim 2, wherein a retaining surface of said first retaining projectionand a retaining surface of said second retaining projection are bothtapered, sloping toward said engagement direction.